Ten Funny Books for Book Clubs

Dear BookBrowsers,

Sadly, summer is mostly in the rear-view mirror now and while there's still time for barbecues and watermelon, the annual ritual of reading often prescribes light reads for the summer and more "serious" literature for fall.

This doesn't mean that we can't lighten up our reading with picks from the humor and satire pile, or indulge droll and dry wit. After all, laughter is the best prescription. And while the book club selections in this list might not be laugh-out-loud funny, they're sure to bring a smile to your face. If you'd like to, please share your own recommendations by posting at the bottom.

Your editor,
Davina

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper Paperback & ebook Jul 2010. 352 pages. Published by Plume. Who knew that a novel about marriage, divorce and family could be riotously funny? But throw blood relations together for a week and hilarity is bound to ensue. Book clubs will find the beleaguered Judd Foxman's family to be much like their own, people you can't live with sometimes -- and definitely can't live without. Laughter aside, there's plenty to ponder here especially the relevance of Foxman's situation to one's own. More info & reading guide

Woke Up Lonely by Fiona Maazel Paperback & ebook Apr 2014. 352 pages. Published by Graywolf Press. In our age of connectedness, political disillusionment, reality television, endless wars fought by machines, people are more desperate than ever to feel close. Then why do we feel so lonely and repel the very people we wish to attract? The premise of this wild novel might seem acidic but Maazel's evocative writing and biting humor make it an engrossing read. There's much to discuss here about the pervasiveness of societal values and what or who defines a cult. More info & reading guide

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion Paperback & ebook Jul 2015. 304 pages. Published by Simon & Schuster. Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are just about figuring out the whole marriage thing when they discover Rosie is pregnant. For Don this means an entirely different level of research, stuff the geeky guy is just eager to dive into. What he doesn't plan for, are the unexpected fallouts of life along the way. Plenty of whimsy and good-hearted cheer will have book clubs rooting for this lovable couple who might not have all the answers in life but who are willing to give it a try as long as they have each other. If your group have not read The Rosie Project, you might want to start with that first. More info & reading guide

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake: A Memoir by Anna Quindlen Memoir. Paperback & ebook Apr 2013. 224 pages. Published by Random House. The title says it all -- this Boomer lives life to the fullest and her delightful memoir captures every high and low that makes for an unpredictable ride. Quindlen's insightful and funny perspectives on aging, family, girlfriends and work will give book clubs plenty of pithy material to mull over. Laughter is after all, always best when shared. More info & reading guide

Florence Gordon by Brian Morton Paperback & ebook Sep 2015. 320 pages. Published by Mariner Books. Speaking of lots of candles, here's a story about a defiant 75-year-old who continues to color outside the lines. The rebel in her will appeal to many readers and Florence's ongoing struggles with family, the one piece in her life she struggles to manage, will offer rich topics for discussion. Check out BookBrowse's discussion of the book in addition to your own. More info & reading guide

 

The Room by Jonas Karlsson Paperback & ebook Feb 2015. 192 pages. Published by Hogarth Books. Think your workplace is nuts? Even bizarre? Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The meticulous office worker Bjorn is sure there's something going on in a secret room at the government office where he is employed but his colleagues are a hardsell. This sharp satire on contemporary culture encourages book clubs to look at our society's obsession with conformity and rule-following at the cost of all else. More info & reading guide

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise: A Novel by Julia Stuart Paperback & ebook Aug 2011. 320 pages. Published by Anchor Books. Imagine living in the Tower of London, that popular tourist attraction, for eight years. That's exactly what Balthazar Jones has been doing with his wife and his 120-year-old pet tortoise, setting up home in the improbable structure. The story's endearing characters, brought to life with humorous quirks, and a sense of quiet heart-warming tenderness, will give book club members much to love. Test your mettle with the quiz included as part of the reading guide. More info & reading guide

No Biking in the House Without a Helmet by Melissa Fay Greene Memoir. Paperback & ebook Apr 2012. 368 pages. Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Most of us can agree that one of life's greatest joys -- and its greatest source of worries -- is parenthood. When the author and her husband decided to add to their four kids through adoption, they weren't quite prepared for the wobbly path they would embark on. Filled with hilarity and grace, book clubbers (and everyone else) will find much to relate to one family's fortunes and everyday insanities. More info & reading guide

The Uncommon Reader: A Novella by Alan Bennett Paperback Sep 2008. 128 pages. Published by Picador. A funny novella about reading. Could there be a better fit for book clubbers? Difficult to say. What we do know is that Alan Bennett is an expert at noticing the subtlest nuances in life and shining a spotlight on the things that really matter. He is in fine form here and what's more we're treated to some of the best works in English literature. More info & reading guide

Love Is a Canoe by Ben Schrank Paperback & ebook Jan 2014. 352 pages. Published by Picador. A funny and romantic novel about the everyday grievances that slowly ossify in a marriage and the steps one couple must take to make their love endure. There's plenty of material in here for discussion -- about the foundations for a successful relationship and the work it takes to get there. More details and reviews about this book